New chapter of Ordinary Person is out! (2/3 chapters)

 

 

Chapter 108

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

I was more exhausted than I had ever been from the dungeon itself, my legs and hips trembling like those of a fawn, yet I somehow managed to make it home.

What on earth had just occurred?

Even the act of pondering the matter felt burdensome, but I forced my mind to work and launched the map application on my smartphone.

What had Senpai wished to remain silent about? It could not have been that exquisite nightdress.

The sight of her in that attire possessed a destructive power sufficient to consume three bowls of rice. Indeed, it was the sort of spectacle for which one might even offer a prayer with hands clasped in admiration.

On the map, there appeared a ramen shop rated four stars on Emilia’s Ramen Map. It was the very establishment where Emilia had suffered sexual harassment within the premises and had struck an older man in retaliation, a truly problematic establishment.

To clarify, the trouble had been caused by the customer, who was immediately taken into the care of the police and was scheduled to face trial shortly. Mira, on the German side, had been absolutely furious, and the offending man had been socially executed without awaiting the court’s proceedings.

She alone must never be turned into an enemy.

If the German embassy were to lodge a formal complaint with the company, it would indeed be catastrophic. Sexual harassment committed publicly against a high school minor. I feared that pushing too far might drive the man to hang himself. Yet, merely examining the location clarified matters. That area was lined with izakaya, bars, pubs, and even clubs and cabaret establishments.

Now, I understood why Senpai had been present there in that nightdress. If my information was not outdated, Senpai had been expelled from the party and had continued her exploration solo.

…Could it have been a financial issue? Was she lavishing money upon hosts? Senpai?

It seemed more plausible in the reverse, yet imagining it directly was difficult. Perhaps it was a matter concerning her family. Consulting Mira would have to remain the last resort.

I resolved to speak with Senpai directly. To be honest, I also wished to ensure she would remain silent regarding certain matters.

With such lingering thoughts occupying my mind, we set off together toward the Saturday dungeon. At first, everything appeared to proceed normally. We exchanged greetings, entered the dungeon, hunted monsters, and took our midday meal. I had merely proposed advancing to the fourth floor, and I assumed that time was passing without incident. Nevertheless, I could not help but feel the occasional gaze of Sofia upon me. For some reason, I felt that I was being observed.

“Kouta, has something happened?” (Sofia)

“Huh? Why do you ask?” (Kouta)

I wished to inquire of Sofia, yet it was I who was being asked.

“…Kouta, you carry a certain impure scent.” (Sofia)

Are you some kind of saint?

“Emilia, you cannot smell it, can you?” (Kouta)

I managed, with some effort, to pull Emilia away as she instinctively attempted to sniff me.

“Could it not be a misunderstanding, Sofia?” (Kouta)

“I do not believe that Kouta-kun has the courage for such things.” (Mira)

Mira’s lack of trust was astonishing.

“No, it is the same kind of impure scent that one perceives when glancing at my own chest! And above all, today you have looked at Emilia fewer times than usual! Therefore, there is no mistake.” (Sofia)

I have not been casting so many glances at Sofia’s chest! After all, I usually wear armor! Not today, but normally it is armor!

“That is true. Recently, Kouta tends to gaze at Emilia whenever he has any free moment. That is indeed strange.” (Haruka)

“What exactly are you dissatisfied with, Kouta? Is it the breasts? Is it the breasts!?” (Emilia)

How can all of you possess such extraordinary perception?

“Kouta, it would be wise to apologize promptly. The later you wait, the more complications will arise, so please be careful.” (Haruka)

Haruka-kun… your concern feels genuine. Thank you. Yet I cannot reveal everything…

I informed them about seeing Adelaide-senpai yesterday, and I conveyed my impression that Senpai might have become involved in the nightlife business.

“Perhaps it is a family matter, and I was uncertain whether it was appropriate to intervene. Could it be a monetary issue?” (Sofia)

“Adelaide-senpai?” (Mira)

“I have not heard of it.” (Kouta)

“…Adelaide-senpai, that is indeed serious…” (Emilia)

Sofia and Mira seemed to have no knowledge of the matter, yet Emilia appeared to know something. However, unusually, Emilia remained reluctant to speak. Although I had not heard it directly from her, she seemed to possess some knowledge of her family’s circumstances.

“Adelaide-senpai’s father is a soldier. She herself used to explore dungeons, but… she could not endure long-term stays within them, and… she overused certain medications.” (Emilia)

The origin of the situation appeared to be similar to that faced by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. In order to explore the depths of the Toyota Dungeon, even the fourth floor had small camps established, which was commonly known. However, it was not known that the pressure was too great for military personnel to withstand.

Many armed forces administered drugs of low addictiveness prior to deployment to prevent timidity, to lift spirits, and to enable soldiers to face the enemy in battle. The intake was supposed to be properly regulated, yet adherence was not guaranteed.

Every organization, using limited personnel, continued exploration deeper into the dungeon. Ordinary explorers could simply give up, but when the weight of an entire nation rested upon them, such an option was unavailable. Seeking mental stability, one could resort to medicinal drugs, and once begun, there was no possibility of stopping.

These drugs had side effects, yet were highly effective. Ignoring the proper usage could result in the preservation of the mind at the cost of destroying the body. If the superiors of the organization acted out of self-preservation and reported no abnormalities, the wider world would rarely be informed of the truth. They were exploring together.

It was not solely the Japanese Self-Defense Forces that were approaching their limits. Naturally, armies in the Netherlands or Germany, which possessed even fewer personnel, faced stricter conditions. The burden thus fell upon all the personnel at the front lines. This, therefore, must be one consequence of that immense burden.

 

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